Elder law, estate planning are focus of new Brandeis Law program

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville plans to help local senior citizens tackle issues such as end-of-life planning, asset management and the intricacies of health care law.

            The Estate Planning and Elder Law Program, which is still in its early stages, is expected to grow into an important resource for legal professionals, community members and law students, said Professor Goldburn Maynard Jr., who launched the program with help from his students.

“Estate planning and elder law are topics that we typically avoid at all costs but these issues affect us all, whether directly or as we care for loved ones. I hope this program can both make these discussions more accessible as well as provide resources for our aging community,” Maynard said.

Maynard said the EPEL will be powered by students. He envisions a program that might include related courses, public service opportunities and even efforts to impact policy.

The seed for the EPEL started as an assignment where Maynard directed a group of nine students to focus on three projects: composing an online Medicaid primer, drafting a short guide to advanced care directives and planning a symposium on aging.

"I found that my students outmatched my expectations," Maynard said. "They were pushing it in a bigger direction." 

The program’s first outcome was a Nov. 12 symposium that offered legal and medical perspectives on end-of-life and aging.

Upcoming initiatives include a website, to be launched in December, that will provide legal resources for seniors. During the spring 2017semester, students will focus on the issues of elder abuse and guardianships in Kentucky.

For more, contact Maynard at 502-852-5563.

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